Benefits for Proven Tobacco-Use Cessation Treatments
HowShould Benefits Be Designed?
Benefits for proven tobacco-use cessation treatments have been shown to increase treatment use and the number of successful quitters; therefore, both the Public Health Service-sponsored Clinical Practice Guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, and the Community Preventive Services Task Force recommend that all insurers provide tobacco cessation benefits that do the following:
- Cover at least four counseling sessions of at least 30 minutes each, including proactive telephone counseling and individual counseling. While classes are also effective, few smokers attend them.
- Ten percent of smokers alive today are living with a smoking-related illness.
- Cover both prescription and over-the-counter nicotine replacement medication and bupropion (see medication table).
- Provide counseling and medication coverage for at least two smoking cessation attempts per year.
- Eliminate or minimize co-pays or deductibles for counseling and medications, as even small copayments reduce the use of proven treatments.
Tags: Stop Smoking
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